Public Preview: Secure, Modern Access to Azure Files on macOS with MS Entra ID

Azure Files now supports access from macOS using Entra ID authentication (Public Preview), enabling secure, identity-based access to file shares for cross-platform teams. This expands support for modern workflows, allowing users on macOS to seamlessly access and collaborate on shared data alongside Windows environments. Key benefits include:

• Enhanced security posture: Password-less access from macOS using Entra ID - no credential prompts or storage account keys—enforced by Conditional Access, MFA, and AES-256 encryption
• Reduced operational overhead: Eliminate key management; access is provisioned and governed through Entra ID groups
• No Active Directory dependency: Enable full access to Azure Files using cloud identities - no domain controllers required
• True identity-based access model: Kerberos authentication with Azure RBAC and NTFS ACLs for precise, layered access control
• Accelerated AI workflows: Seamless access to large datasets from macOS to support faster experimentation and development

Reach out to azurefiles@microsoft.com with questions.

Learn more.